University and Community Engagement: Toward Transformational …
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offshore oil and gas platforms and mitigating potential impact of sea level rise (SLR)
as well as Universiti Tenaga Nasional in assessing and mitigating tsunami waves’
impact on coastal power plants as part of the SLR research. These projects constantly
involve scientists and students from various STEM disciplines, in line with the spirit
of integrating STEM in teaching and research. In a current project sponsored by
L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Malaysia, the second author is leading a
team of scientists in the field of Science (Mathematics, Biology), Technology (Computer Science), Engineering (Coastal and Ocean Engineering) to investigate climate
change impacts, including unusual weather patterns and SLR, on coastal resources.
The goal is to enhance the sustainability of coastal groundwater and vegetation in
Penang by means of model simulations and university-community partnership. The
key to managing diversity and complexity in STEM engagement with community is
the establishment of confidence and mutual trust through respect and communication facilitated by SLO and SCC. University-community partnership in an inclusive
environment is crucial to achieving common goals in SHE.
7.3 STEM Collaboration in USM
Another successful example of SLO and SCC is demonstrated in a university project
in USM on evaluating the potential health hazards of fume emissions from the Chemistry School to the nearby Science Complex (Koh et al. 2006). The modelling analysis indicated that the air pollution levels in the fume emissions were well within the
international safety guidelines and hence were unlikely to pose health hazards for
occupants in the surrounding buildings and in the campus. However, some occupants
residing in the Science Complex expressed concern regarding the model’s true representation of the real condition. After inclusive and extended discussions, all parties
were convinced that field and lab measurements should be conducted to complement
and validate the modelling results. Therefore, in collaboration with the scientists in
STEM disciplines, concomitant eight-hour field-lab surveys were conducted over
several days on personals working in the affected buildings. This collaborative effort
between STEM disciplines involving mathematical simulations and field-lab measurements succeeded in reassuring the campus community that the fume emissions
from the chimneys were unlikely to post health hazard (Teh and Koh 2020).
8 Conclusion
Education is a critical activity that one goes through to acquire the skills, knowledge
and attitude to face the unknown future. Hence, it is the best period during which
the issues related to sustainable development (SD) should be explored to prepare the
students for application of SD knowledge at future workplace or for further training
in specialized SD contexts. Programs for ESD should focus on positive solutions by
801
offshore oil and gas platforms and mitigating potential impact of sea level rise (SLR)
as well as Universiti Tenaga Nasional in assessing and mitigating tsunami waves’
impact on coastal power plants as part of the SLR research. These projects constantly
involve scientists and students from various STEM disciplines, in line with the spirit
of integrating STEM in teaching and research. In a current project sponsored by
L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Malaysia, the second author is leading a
team of scientists in the field of Science (Mathematics, Biology), Technology (Computer Science), Engineering (Coastal and Ocean Engineering) to investigate climate
change impacts, including unusual weather patterns and SLR, on coastal resources.
The goal is to enhance the sustainability of coastal groundwater and vegetation in
Penang by means of model simulations and university-community partnership. The
key to managing diversity and complexity in STEM engagement with community is
the establishment of confidence and mutual trust through respect and communication facilitated by SLO and SCC. University-community partnership in an inclusive
environment is crucial to achieving common goals in SHE.
7.3 STEM Collaboration in USM
Another successful example of SLO and SCC is demonstrated in a university project
in USM on evaluating the potential health hazards of fume emissions from the Chemistry School to the nearby Science Complex (Koh et al. 2006). The modelling analysis indicated that the air pollution levels in the fume emissions were well within the
international safety guidelines and hence were unlikely to pose health hazards for
occupants in the surrounding buildings and in the campus. However, some occupants
residing in the Science Complex expressed concern regarding the model’s true representation of the real condition. After inclusive and extended discussions, all parties
were convinced that field and lab measurements should be conducted to complement
and validate the modelling results. Therefore, in collaboration with the scientists in
STEM disciplines, concomitant eight-hour field-lab surveys were conducted over
several days on personals working in the affected buildings. This collaborative effort
between STEM disciplines involving mathematical simulations and field-lab measurements succeeded in reassuring the campus community that the fume emissions
from the chimneys were unlikely to post health hazard (Teh and Koh 2020).
8 Conclusion
Education is a critical activity that one goes through to acquire the skills, knowledge
and attitude to face the unknown future. Hence, it is the best period during which
the issues related to sustainable development (SD) should be explored to prepare the
students for application of SD knowledge at future workplace or for further training
in specialized SD contexts. Programs for ESD should focus on positive solutions by